PROJECT INFORMATION SYSTEM

Module 1 Chapter 1

Presented by: Engr. Alvin John Romero

 
This chapter focuses on
 Introduction
 Data
Content  Database
 Database System
 Database Management in Construction Industry
 Data Processing in Construction Industry
 

Related  
These are supplemental content necessary for this chapter
 Paulson,Computer Application in Construction
Readings  Rumbaugh et al, Object Oriented Modeling and Design

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The Overview of Database Management
 
“We're entering a new world in which data may be
more important than software”
-Tim O'Reilly

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 Introduction
What is data?
 
Data are information, quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a
computer, being stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical, or
mechanical recording media.
 
Data refers to discrete facts, such as numbers. Data can be structured to create information, organized to
produce knowledge and applied to give wisdom, for example, allowing decisions to be made. In terms of the
digital economy, data is often described as being the ‘new oil’.
 
Data can be measured, collected, analyzed, and represented in visual form using images, graphs and
other analytical tools.
 

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 Introduction
What is data?
 
 
What is Raw data?
 
Raw Data (or unprocessed) data is in the form of numbers and characters that have not
been ‘cleaned’/corrected to remove outliers or obvious data entry errors. Field data refers
to raw data that is collected in an uncontrolled in situ environment.
 

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 What is database?
 
Database is a collection of persistent data that is used by the application system of some given
enterprise
 
Enterprise -a generic term for any reasonably self-constrained commercial, scientific, technical or other
organization. This might be a single individual (with small, personal database) or a complete corporation or
similar large body (with a large shared database) or anything in between. Here are some examples:
 
 Manufacturing Company
 Bank
 University
 Government Department
 

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Any enterprise must necessarily maintain a lot of data about its operations.
The data is the “persistent data” referred to in the definition. The enterprise
just mentioned would typically include the following(respectively) among
the persistent data:
 
 Product Data
 Account Data
 Patient Data
 Student Data
 Planning Data
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What is database system?

A database system is basically a computerized record keeping system

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Database system are available on machine that ranges all the way from
smallest handheld or personal computers to the largest mainframes or
cluster of mainframes. The facilities provided by any given system are
determined to some extend by the size and power of the underlying
machine.
 
Multi-user system-is a system in which many users can access the database
at the same time and tend to be from large machines.
 
Single-user system-is a system in which at most on user can access the
database at any given time by the small machines.
 
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 Why database?
 
Why use a database system? What are the advantages? The advantages of the database system over
traditional, paper-based method of record-keeping are perhaps easier to see in these cases. Here are
some of them:
 
 Compactness: There is no need for possibly voluminous paper files
 Speed: The machines can retrieve and update data far faster that a human can. In particular, ad-hoc,
spur-of-the moment queries can be answered quickly without and time-consuming manual or visual
searches.
 Less drudgery: Much of the sheer tedium of maintaining files by hand is eliminated. Mechanical tasks
are always better than machines
 Currency: Accurate, up-to-date information is available on demand at any time.
 Protection: The data can better protected against unintentional loss and unlawful access.
 

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Database Management in Construction Industry
 
The construction industry uses and generates huge quantities of data. Data might be
generated by a very wide variety of sources, including:
 
 Design and construction (for example, building information modelling).
 Post occupancy evaluation.
 Utilities, building services, meters, building management systems and so on.
 Infrastructure and transport systems.
 Enterprise systems such as purchasing systems, performance reporting, work
scheduling, and so on.
 Maintenance and replacement systems.
 Operational cost monitoring.
 ICT systems and equipment.
 
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Construction sites these days have no shortage of data: design and BIM
data from the planning stages of a project, jobsite data collected by
wearables, mobile devices and sensors on equipment/materials,
accounting and job progress data from the office, project management
data and much more. Many contractors are practically drowning in data
and don’t have the right tools to parse and analyze the data in ways
that would have meaningful impacts on their projects.
 
Better understanding your project data can help significantly boost
productivity and profitability on current projects, as well as better plan
future ones. Here are just a few of the key benefits:
 

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1. Improving Jobsite Processes and Productivity
 
Contractors can improve workflows, find ways to automate tasks,
find efficiencies, cut costs and much more by streamlining and
analyzing data collection from jobsites. And true data analytics is
more than just tracking traditional job costs and cash flow. For
example, by analyzing data about employees’ movements (either
collected from wearables or smartphones), you can see how much
extra movement takes place in the course of a day. One contractor
did just that and used the information to place materials and
equipment in the most logical locations to cut down on all this
movement, saving a lot of time.
 
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2. Reducing Risk and Increasing Safety
 
All contractors should track data related to safety issues.
Injuries, safety inspections and other information must be
recorded and, in some cases, submitted to the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration. But going a step further and
analyzing data that can help you identify high-risk tasks and
dangerous conditions can help prevent future incidents and
reduce risk for your business.
 

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3. Bidding Smarter and Winning More Work
 
Closely tracking things like job costs, change orders, material and
equipment usage and worker productivity from your projects can help better
forecast future work and lead to smarter bidding. While many companies
already do some version of this, having more complete and relevant data
can provide a fuller picture of how jobs fare and where improvements can
be made. Analyzing data also ensures your bids are more accurate for
future projects, while the increased efficiencies and on-time, on-budget
delivery of projects will lead to a solid reputation for your firm, helping you
land even more work.

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4. Transitioning from Analytics to Predictive Analytics
 
Most of these trends touch on how you can plan better by analyzing
data, and that leads us to another trend: predictive analytics. Ideally, you
won’t only assess what happened on a project after the fact. You want
data to help you make smarter decisions based on models of what will
happen in the future. Your data can help you develop these models. As we
see an increase in machine learning and artificial intelligence technology in
our industry, this may also fuel the move to predictive models in
construction.
 

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Data from these sources can be used to understand behavior, assess performance, improve market
competitiveness, allocate resources, and so on.
 
 
Data forms the basis of any construction project, and improving the way in which the available
information is processed will in turn improve performance and efficiency.
 
While a data entry company can provide the required support in inputting, organizing and
presenting the data in a way that creates the maximum efficiencies, data management is an
important consideration for every construction project manager.
 
This data would include reports, drawings, schedules, contracts, tenders, bids, and inspections. With
the availability of advanced technology, paper-based processes can be minimized, access to data
can be speeded up and the data made actionable. This is very important in this fast-paced world.
 

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Data Processing in Construction Industry
 
 
Data processing can be made more efficient by taking the following steps.
 
 Avoid duplicate data entry: Duplicate data entry is common in the construction industry. Information is often
tracked on paper before being logged in to spreadsheet. This data may once again be re-entered into accounting
and payroll programs. Each time the data is re-entered, there is the possibility of error and it is also a huge waste
of time.
 
 Ensure immediate access to data: This is important to ensure that each phase of the project works in an efficient
and timely manner. With readily available data, evaluation of project status and decision making becomes easy.
 
 Ensure that data is available across the entire project: In large projects involving multiple companies using
different software systems, this becomes difficult. However, such challenges must be addressed effectively and the
information made available across the entire project.

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 Avoid inaccurate timesheets and other data entry errors: Errors are frequent with
paper timesheets. If they are not completed on a daily basis, the errors can
multiply. Employees delaying to enter the details into their timesheet may
accidentally log overtime that they never worked, or forget they had left early on a
particular day and mark themselves as present. These errors increase the costs of
the organization. Incorrect data or omission of important data can cause issues
such as missed deadlines by owners, designers and contractors, suspension of
ongoing works, delay of new projects etc which can hinder business growth.
 
 Ensure that all systems work in unison: The data available from different
departments should be integrated so that all systems can work together thereby
improving quality, creating value, and enhancing productivity.
 
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The construction industry has started using unique, advanced
technological solutions to efficiently meet customer requirements. As
they grow, companies in this sector accumulate more and more data
which necessitates a paperless solution for which they utilize business
process outsourcing services and stay competent.
 

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Big Data in Construction Industry
 
Big data provides construction companies with a method to collect, analyze, and apply vast amounts of
information to help solve business problems and provide critical, informed insight for future activities. It
helps companies complete projects on time, bid more accurately, and build more efficiently. Big data in
construction, however, also poses a significant challenge when it comes to collecting, sharing, and using the
data generated across the complex construction ecosystem.
 
Today’s construction firms are starting to adopt collaborative technology such as real-time, cloud-
powered analytics to mine large structured and unstructured data repositories to make sure all stakeholders
– architects, consultants, engineers, subcontractors, specialty tradesmen, clients, operators, agents, and
suppliers – are on the same page and informed with real-time data. These technologies have the potential
to redefine the industry by offering game changing benefits.

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 Today’s construction firms are starting to adopt collaborative technology such as real-time, cloud-
powered analytics to mine large structured and unstructured data repositories to make sure all
stakeholders – architects, consultants, engineers, subcontractors, specialty tradesmen, clients,
operators, agents, and suppliers – are on the same page and informed with real-time data. These
technologies have the potential to redefine the industry by offering game changing benefits.
 
Here’s what industry leaders need to know to manage big data better:
 
1. Prioritize digital technology  
2. Mitigate risks  
3. Leverage predictability
4. Utilize building information modelling  
5. Eliminate waste  
6. Improve plant and equipment  
7. Maintain a healthy and safe

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Familiarity with today’s technologies and improving operations by using the big data
flowing from them opens the door for the next generation of technology, and its truly
disruptive potential for construction. Five-D printing, IoT sensors, process automation,
robotics, digital twins, cognitive machine learning, and AI have already proven to be
transformative in other industries, and we can expect to see the same elemental effects
in the construction industry.
 
Early adopters face a basic lack of knowledge and a limited number of success stories
about application of these technologies in construction to support the investment. But
one of the key benefits that can be derived from IoT solutions in particular address one
of construction’s most pernicious challenges: workforce.

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Digitizing workforce management will help construction companies recognize some
impressive benefits including reduction in labor costs through more accurate
budgeting and planning, risk mitigation through simplified legal and internal policy
compliance, enhanced employee experience through optimized scheduling, and
improved productivity via automated administrative tasks.
It is time for the construction industry to embrace the digital age and start realizing
technology’s potential to positively impact operations in 2021 and beyond.
 

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EXERCISE
 
1.1 Explain the following in your own words
 
Data
Database
Database system
 
1.2 What are the advantage of using database system? What are the
disadvantages?
1.3 Why database system is important in construction industry? Provide
some examples

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References
 
Date, An Introduction to Database System, Addison Wasley
1990
https://www.managedoutsource.com/blog/efficient-data-
processing-management-construction-industry/
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Data_in_the_constr
uction_industry
https://www.viewpoint.com/blog/data-analytics-trends-in-
construction

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